Common Core standards have been adopted by 48 states, with nationwide implementation set for 2014-15.
The Common Core Standards are designed to align with best evidence on college and career readiness.
The design of the Common Core Standards is based on research and best practice data relating to what works with regards to college and career readiness.
The mission statement of the Common Core State Standards Initiative states:
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. Source: http://www.corestandards.org/
A brief PowerPoint providing a summary of the Common Core Standards can be found here.
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers is a group of states committed to building a next-generation assessment system.
PARCC states collectively educate about 25 million public K-12 students in the United States and include 10 of the 12 Race to the Top winners.
What brought all of these states together is a shared commitment to develop an assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards that is anchored in college and career readiness; provides comparability across states; has the ability to assess and measure higher-order skills such as critical thinking, communications, and problem solving; and provides truly useful information for educators, parents, and students alike.
While each state has their own priorities and challenges, PARCC provides the opportunity for participating states to come together and collectively move the field forward and break new ground in assessment design.
Common Core State Standards (CCSS):
What is the Common Core?The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. Source: http://www.corestandards.org/
College Career Readiness Assessments (PARCC):
What is PARCC?